Number-board for golfers.



G. D. RAINE, JR.

NUMBER BOARD FOR GOLFERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26. um.

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G. B. WHNE, in.

NUMBER BEARD FQR GQLFERS.

APPUCATWH TILED WM. 26, 917.

Patented Jam. M, M9.

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NUMBER-BOARD FOR GOTLEERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan, m, 1919..

Application filed November 26, 191?. Serial No. 208,943.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GILBERT DIXON RAINE, Jr., a citizenof the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have. invented new and usefullmprovements in Numher-Boards for Golfers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an indicator which is especially adapted for use in connection with the conduct of golf tournaments or matches at which it may be employed as a call-board to indicate what player or team of player is due to start play, that is to say, when a particular number is shown on the indicator the player or team to whom a corresponding number has been assigned will know that it is his or its turn to start in the game.

As is well known to those familiar with golf, it is usual for a large number of" the players to take part in a tournament, and it is also the practice, for the orderly conduct of the same, to assign to each player, or team of players, a number which will indicate the order or turn in which the player or team is to start play. As golf courses or grounds are necessarily extensive in area the players are likely, for one reason or an other, to be located at widely separated points or places, while awaiting the call to play, in some instances lounging about the clubhouse, or perhaps forming a part of the gallery and watching the play of a partlcular contestant. It also frequently happens that a player or team will fail to appear when due to play, and under such conditions delay usually occurs in notifying later scheduled players that they must appear and start play sooner than they anticipated. Especially is this so when players are scattered about the grounds or clubhouses, and not expecting to be called before a certain time. The delays incident to find ing and starting the players are very annoying, create confusion and interfere with. the orderly conduct of the tournament.

To obviate these objections and to insure that players or teams will receive prompt notification when due to start play I have devised my improved indicator, which is of such character and may be so positioned or stationed on the grounds as to immediately and visually indicate, even to players or an official located at relatively great distances,

what player or team is to take his or its turn in the game. y.

Another object of my invention is to provide an indicator-board of this character which may be easily and instantly operated, and which will be plainly visible at relatively great distances, and which will embody in its construction the desired features of simplicity, efliciency and durability.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an indicator wherein the signal indicia, such as numerals, is to be exhibited or printed or otherwise marked upon a traveling web which is supported and stretched in such manner as to draw the web taut and smooth at all times, thereb insuring the clear and plain exposition o the signal.

With the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in view, my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and fallingwithin the scope of the appended claims. In the accompanyingdrawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pre-.

ferred form of indicator embodying my. invention. y i

Fig. 2 is a view partly in vertical longi tudinal section and partly in elevation, with certain parts of the casing removed to show the interior arrangement.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the casing of the indicator.

Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail sectional view taken through the lower portion of the case mg and the adjacent portion of the supporting standard or post.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the leaf springsactinp; as a brake plate.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the letter A indicates the standard or post of the device which may be of any suitable height and size, and which is surrounded by and supports the casing B of the indicator. This caslng may.

also be of any preferred form, but is prefer ably constructed as shown herein, that is to say, embraces the bottom wall 1, a solid back wall 2 and a front wall 3 whichis in the ion nature of an open frame forming the windows 4,4, preferably covered withglass, as at 5, and through which windows the sign indicia, in the present instance numerals, may be exposed toview; a gable roofb constituting the to wall of the casingrests upon the beveled 'b ock 7 extending between the upper ends of the end walls 8 of the casing, the upper ends of these walls 8 of course being oppositely beveled to conform to the contour of the gable roof and the block 7. In the present instance the casing is divided into two compartments by means of the upper section of the post A, and which section 9 is reduced in diameter and constitutes a bearing for the innermost studs of the web rollers as hereafter described. I preferably employ four rollers, comprising'two sets, the upper roller of each set being indicated by the numeral 10 While the lowerroller of eaclfset is shown at 11. These rollers are of course spaced suitable distances apart, and one set of rollers occupies'each of'the compartments. Over each set 'ofrollers travels a web 12 which may be formed of any suitable material, such as fabrico r the like, and is of sufficient dimensions to have a si nal indicia printed thereon, In the presen instance theindicia is the nature'of numerals shown at 0, these numerals; as usual, preferably running consecutively and areprinted suitable spaces apart'oii the face of each web. Each roller is provided at itsinner end with a relatively 'short stud 13 journaled in the upper section 9' of the post A and each section eX- tends 'vertically and interiorly of the casing, as'before 'des'cribed', while the outer end of each roller; is'fprovide'd with a relatively long studla extending through and finding a bearing 'in' the 'adjacentend wall of the casing. of these studs 14 is provided at 'its out'el 'end with a hand wheel 15 so that its roller may e turned in the proper direction tocause a selected numeral to appear inthe adjacent window "or opening in the front of the casing. For instance, when the hand wheels 15' of tlieuppermost rollers 10 are turned in the proper direction the webs willbe drawn outward, while when the hand wheels 15 of the lowermost rollers are turned the proper direction'the webs will be drawn dowiiward; "Ob QP Yv by this arrangement the selected'nuinerals may be caused to appear; at their respective win- (lows or f openings. In this connection I wish it'to be'understo'od that while I have shownftwo"webshesigned to be exposed through'two'wiiidows or openings in the flfont of the casing, "it will be evident that am 'o W ay be rl y F 1" instanedfif desired a single web cooperating with stsinglje openi g or window in the front of 'the"casiii "inayb'e used. In order to pIace facertam degree-of tension upon the rollers andfthus exert sufficient friction to brake tliieiroll'ers and thereby hold the webs iiis elected" pdsition's I'prov'ide each roller withiabrake-plate16which is in themtu eef a metall c leaf spring having a centralopenifig 17 forthe passage of the'outer stud ef the;adjacentroller, the brake-spring having intern'iediate portions 18 bearing against the ends of the roller and end portions 19 bearing against the adjacent end wall of the casing, the springs being fastened by suitable screws 20 passing through screw openings 21, as will be best understood by reference to Figs. 3 and 5. These brakesprings exert constant friction on the rollers, as will be readily understood, and thus when a roller has been turned to a certain position, and the turn action ceases, the roller will remain at rest.

' It is highly desirable that the portions of the webs exposed at the windows or openings in the front of the casing should be maintained taut and smooth, and that all wrinkles, creases and folds be avoided, this being particularly necessary when the sign is to be located so as to be observable from a considerable distance. To accomplish this I provide a stretcher plate 22 which is fas tened at its ends to strips or cleats 23 secured in turn to the interior faces of the end walls of the casing, the central portion of the stretcher plate being fastened to a filler strip 25 attached to the upper section 9 of the post A. The top and bottom edges of the stretcher plate 22 are rounded as at 25, and as this stretcher plate is located in front of the rollers the webs wound on the rollers are trained over the outer face of the stretcher plate so as to run between said plate and the openings or windows of the casing. Thus the'stretcher plate 22, as best understood by reference to Fig. 3, will tauten the webs'and hold the same smooth or free from wrinkles or fol s, thereby causing the numerals to be clearly and plainly exposed to view, when positioned at the windows or openings of the casing.

If desired, for the sake of rigidity and strength, a filler strip 26 may be interposed between the rear wall of the casing and the section 9 of the post asbest understood by reference to Fig. 4:.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of my indicator will be readily understood.

Referring to Fig. 1, if for instance a player bearing the numeral 22 is to be called to take his turn in the game, the webs are turned by means of the hand wheels 15 until a numeral 2 appears at each window, thus indicating that player having the numeral 22 is called. As the numerals may be seen'at a great distance, no time need be lost in sending calls or messages or otherwise notifying the player whose turn it is to play.

While I have herein shown and described one particular embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to all the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as modification and variation may he made Without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An indicator of the class described comprising a supporting post, a casing mounted thereon through the central portion of which the upper part of the post extends dividing the easing into two sections, each section having a window, a pair of spaced rollers located within each section of the casing and journaled at their outer ends in the end walls of the casing and at their inner ends in the said upper part of the supporting post, traveling webs mounted on said rollers and having signal characters thereon adapted to be exposed at the Windows, and independent means for operating the said rollers to cause the webs to travel to expose selected characters at the respective windows.

2. An indicator of the class described cornprlsing a supporting post, a casing mounted thereon through the central portion of which the upper part of the supporting post extends dividing the easing into two sections, said casing having a Wall provided with a plurality of windows or openings, a pair of spaced rollers located within each section of the casing, and journaled at their outer ends in the end walls of the casing and at their inner ends in said upper part of the supporting post, traveling Webs mounted on said rollers and having signal characters thereon adapted to be exposed at the openings, -1neans for operating said rollers to cause the webs to travel to expose selected characters at the openings, a stretcher-plate underlying and bearing against the traveling webs to tauten such portions of the webs as are exposed at the openings, and supports for said stretcher-plate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GILBERT DIXON RAINE, JR.

topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

